The nation's most urban counties grew by a substantial 5.3 percent between 2010 and 2015, faster than any other type, according to a Demo Memo analysis of the Census Bureau's 2015 county population estimates by Rural-Urban Continuum. Counties in smaller metros grew at a slower rate, and those in rural areas lost population. Every component of population change is driving the growth of the most urban counties...
Natural increase is greater in big-city counties. Between 2010 and 2015, the rate of natural increase (defined as births minus deaths) was 2.8 percent in counties ranking 1 on the Rural-Urban Continuum (in metro areas with populations of 1 million or more). This was a higher rate of natural increase than any other type of county on the continuum. Counties ranking an 8 or 9 (the most rural) had a negative rate of natural increase, with deaths outnumbering births.
International migration is greater in big-city counties. Between 2010 and 2015, the rate of net international migration was 2.3 percent in counties ranking 1 on the Rural-Urban Continuum. International migration was positive in every type of county, but the rate was lower in less urban counties and was lowest (0.2 percent) in counties ranking 8 or 9.
Domestic migration is greater in big-city counties. Between 2010 and 2015, the rate of net domestic migration was positive only for the most urban counties, ranking 1 or 2 on the Rural-Urban Continuum. Less urban and rural counties lost more domestic migrants than they gained.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Trends in Household Spending on Streamed and Downloaded Video
Explosive growth is the only way to describe the trend in average household spending on streamed and downloaded video, according to a Demo Memo analysis of the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Average annual household spending on streamed and downloaded video grew 26-fold between 2005 and 2014, after adjusting for inflation—from $0.68 to $17.80.
In 2005—the first year in which streamed and downloaded video appeared on the Consumer Expenditure Survey—only 0.4 percent of households bought streamed and downloaded video during an average quarter. By 2010, the figure had climbed to 1.4 percent. By 2014, it had soared to 13.1 percent. Streamed and downloaded video ranked a lowly 31st in popularity among entertainment products and services in 2010, based on the percentage of households buying the item during an average quarter. In 2014, it ranked 6th.
To see where this trend is going, compare spending on streamed and downloaded video to spending on cable and satellite television service—which streaming and downloading are in the process of replacing. During an average quarter of 2014, 70 percent of households spent on cable or satellite television service, devoting an annual average of $723 to the service. Explosive growth in household spending on streamed and downloaded video is likely to continue.
Percentage of households spending on streamed and downloaded video during an average quarter (and average annual household spending, in 2014 dollars)
2014: 13.1% ($17.80)
2010: 1.4% ($2.11)
2005: 0.4% ($0.68)
Source: Demo Memo analysis of unpublished tables from the Consumer Expenditure Survey
In 2005—the first year in which streamed and downloaded video appeared on the Consumer Expenditure Survey—only 0.4 percent of households bought streamed and downloaded video during an average quarter. By 2010, the figure had climbed to 1.4 percent. By 2014, it had soared to 13.1 percent. Streamed and downloaded video ranked a lowly 31st in popularity among entertainment products and services in 2010, based on the percentage of households buying the item during an average quarter. In 2014, it ranked 6th.
To see where this trend is going, compare spending on streamed and downloaded video to spending on cable and satellite television service—which streaming and downloading are in the process of replacing. During an average quarter of 2014, 70 percent of households spent on cable or satellite television service, devoting an annual average of $723 to the service. Explosive growth in household spending on streamed and downloaded video is likely to continue.
Percentage of households spending on streamed and downloaded video during an average quarter (and average annual household spending, in 2014 dollars)
2014: 13.1% ($17.80)
2010: 1.4% ($2.11)
2005: 0.4% ($0.68)
Source: Demo Memo analysis of unpublished tables from the Consumer Expenditure Survey
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Big-City Counties Growing the Fastest (Still)
The nation's most urban counties continue to grow faster than any other county type according to the Census Bureau's 2015 county population estimates. A Demo Memo analysis of 2010-to-2015 county population trends along the Rural-Urban Continuum documents strong metro growth (the bigger, the better) and continuing rural decline.
The Rural-Urban Continuum is the federal government's way of classifying counties by their degree of urbanity. The continuum is a scale ranging from 1 (the most urban counties, in metropolitan areas of 1 million or more) to 9 (the most rural counties, lacking any settlements of 2,500 or more people and not adjacent to a metropolitan area). If you sort the nation's 3,000-plus counties by their rank on the continuum, then measure population change between 2010 and 2015 for each rank, this is the result...
County population change 2010-2015 by Rural-Urban Continuum Rank
1. 5.3% for rank 1 counties, in metros with 1 million or more people
2. 3.9% for rank 2 counties, in metros of 250,000 to 1 million people
3. 2.6% for rank 3 counties, in metros with less than 250,000 people
4. 0.1% for rank 4 counties, nonmetro adjacent to metro with urban pop of 20,000+
5. 1.7% for rank 5 counties, nonmetro not adjacent to metro with urban pop of 20,000+
6. -0.8% for rank 6 counties, nonmetro adjacent to metro with urban pop of 2,500-19,999
7. -0.5% for rank 7 counties, nonmetro not adjacent to metro with urban pop of 2,500-19,999
8. -1.1% for rank 8 counties, nonmetro adjacent to metro with urban pop less than 2,500
9. -1.2% for rank 9 counties, nonmetro not adjacent to metro, urban pop less than 2,500
The most urban counties (a 1 on the scale) grew the fastest between 2010 and 2015. The most rural counties (8 and 9 on the scale) experienced the biggest declines. A look at annual rates of population change by Rural-Urban Continuum shows declines in every year between 2010 and 2015 for counties ranking 6, 7, 8, and 9 on the continuum. Counties with a rank of 1 on the continuum grew by more than 1 percent in every year.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Rural-Urban Continuum Codes and Census Bureau, Population Estimates, County Total: Vintage 2015
The Rural-Urban Continuum is the federal government's way of classifying counties by their degree of urbanity. The continuum is a scale ranging from 1 (the most urban counties, in metropolitan areas of 1 million or more) to 9 (the most rural counties, lacking any settlements of 2,500 or more people and not adjacent to a metropolitan area). If you sort the nation's 3,000-plus counties by their rank on the continuum, then measure population change between 2010 and 2015 for each rank, this is the result...
County population change 2010-2015 by Rural-Urban Continuum Rank
1. 5.3% for rank 1 counties, in metros with 1 million or more people
2. 3.9% for rank 2 counties, in metros of 250,000 to 1 million people
3. 2.6% for rank 3 counties, in metros with less than 250,000 people
4. 0.1% for rank 4 counties, nonmetro adjacent to metro with urban pop of 20,000+
5. 1.7% for rank 5 counties, nonmetro not adjacent to metro with urban pop of 20,000+
6. -0.8% for rank 6 counties, nonmetro adjacent to metro with urban pop of 2,500-19,999
7. -0.5% for rank 7 counties, nonmetro not adjacent to metro with urban pop of 2,500-19,999
8. -1.1% for rank 8 counties, nonmetro adjacent to metro with urban pop less than 2,500
9. -1.2% for rank 9 counties, nonmetro not adjacent to metro, urban pop less than 2,500
The most urban counties (a 1 on the scale) grew the fastest between 2010 and 2015. The most rural counties (8 and 9 on the scale) experienced the biggest declines. A look at annual rates of population change by Rural-Urban Continuum shows declines in every year between 2010 and 2015 for counties ranking 6, 7, 8, and 9 on the continuum. Counties with a rank of 1 on the continuum grew by more than 1 percent in every year.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Rural-Urban Continuum Codes and Census Bureau, Population Estimates, County Total: Vintage 2015
Monday, March 28, 2016
The Retirement Plan Problem
Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City, Miami...we have a problem. The problem is the lack of employer-sponsored retirement plans for about half the nation's private-sector workers. Because so many workers do not have access to a retirement plan, reports the Center for Retirement Research, one-third of households will end up with no retirement plan coverage at all during their worklife. Many others will have inadequate savings because they moved in and out of coverage as they changed jobs over the years.
Although the Obama administration proposed "automatic IRAs" in 2009, federal legislation has yet to be enacted. Consequently, some states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Oregon) are taking the initiative and mandating automatic IRAs. The Center for Retirement Research report examines these state initiatives and other attempts to broaden retirement plan participation. "A national Auto-IRA plan would be a much more efficient way to close the coverage gap," the report concludes.
Source: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, State Initiatives to Cover Uncovered Private Sector Workers
Although the Obama administration proposed "automatic IRAs" in 2009, federal legislation has yet to be enacted. Consequently, some states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Oregon) are taking the initiative and mandating automatic IRAs. The Center for Retirement Research report examines these state initiatives and other attempts to broaden retirement plan participation. "A national Auto-IRA plan would be a much more efficient way to close the coverage gap," the report concludes.
Source: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, State Initiatives to Cover Uncovered Private Sector Workers
Friday, March 25, 2016
Credit Scores by Housing Tenure
How do Americans' credit scores differ by housing tenure? The Urban Institute decided to find out by analyzing credit bureau and property records data. Researchers Wei Li and Laurie Goodman divided the adult population into six tenure types, listed below in order of size...
1. Renters without a mortgage in past 16 years (39% of adults)
2. Owners with a mortgage now (27% of adults)
3. Owners with a mortgage in past 16 years but not now (12% of adults)
4. Renters with a mortgage in past 16 years but not now (8% of adults)
5. Owners without a mortgage in past 16 years (9% of adults)
6. Renters with a mortgage now (5% of adults)
The researchers then examined the demographics, credit use, and credit scores of each tenure type. Owners with a mortgage in the past 16 years but no mortgage now (12 percent of adults) had the highest credit score, a median of 785. Renters without a mortgage in the past 16 years (39 percent of adults) had the lowest credit score—a median of 619. Notes the study: "52 percent of all renters have a credit score below 650, generally not high enough to qualify for a mortgage."
Source: Urban Institute, Comparing Credit Profiles of American Renters and Owners
1. Renters without a mortgage in past 16 years (39% of adults)
2. Owners with a mortgage now (27% of adults)
3. Owners with a mortgage in past 16 years but not now (12% of adults)
4. Renters with a mortgage in past 16 years but not now (8% of adults)
5. Owners without a mortgage in past 16 years (9% of adults)
6. Renters with a mortgage now (5% of adults)
The researchers then examined the demographics, credit use, and credit scores of each tenure type. Owners with a mortgage in the past 16 years but no mortgage now (12 percent of adults) had the highest credit score, a median of 785. Renters without a mortgage in the past 16 years (39 percent of adults) had the lowest credit score—a median of 619. Notes the study: "52 percent of all renters have a credit score below 650, generally not high enough to qualify for a mortgage."
Source: Urban Institute, Comparing Credit Profiles of American Renters and Owners
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Attitudes Toward Marriage and Childbearing
Cohabitation and out-of-wedlock childbearing, already commonplace in the United States, may become the norm in the years ahead if the attitudes of the nation's younger adults are any indicator. According to the 2011-13 National Survey of Family Growth, most adults under age 45 think cohabitation and out-of-wedlock childbearing are okay. Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statements...
A young couple should not live together unless they are married
Men who disagreed: 75%
Women who disagreed: 71%
It's okay to have and raise children when the parents are living together but not married
Men who agreed: 76%
Women who agreed: 75%
It's okay for an unmarried female to have and raise a child
Men who agreed: 69%
Women who agreed: 78%
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth, Trends in Attitudes about Marriage, Childbearing, and Sexual Behavior: United States, 2002, 2006-2010, and 2011-2013
A young couple should not live together unless they are married
Men who disagreed: 75%
Women who disagreed: 71%
It's okay to have and raise children when the parents are living together but not married
Men who agreed: 76%
Women who agreed: 75%
It's okay for an unmarried female to have and raise a child
Men who agreed: 69%
Women who agreed: 78%
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth, Trends in Attitudes about Marriage, Childbearing, and Sexual Behavior: United States, 2002, 2006-2010, and 2011-2013
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Retirement Confidence in 2016
Nearly two out of three workers say they are somewhat (42 percent) or very (21 percent) confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement, according to the 2016 Retirement Confidence Survey. This is up from the 51 percent who were somewhat (38 percent) or very (13 percent) confident in 2013, the year confidence hit bottom. Only 35 percent of workers in 2016 are "not too" or "not at all" confident, down from 49 percent who felt that way in 2013.
Percentage of workers who expect to retire at age 66 or older
2016: 37%
2011: 36%
2006: 25%
2001: 16%
1991: 11%
Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2016 Retirement Confidence Survey
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Top 10 Occupations: iGeneration
Among the hundreds of detailed occupations examined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 10 with the largest percentage of the iGeneration (aged 16 to 20 in 2015)...
iGeneration share of workers (average = 5%)
1. Lifeguards and other recreational protective service workers: 56.4%
2. Counter attendants, coffee shops and cafeterias: 54.2%
3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurants and coffee shops: 49.8%
4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers: 34.1%
5. Dining room, cafeteria, and bartender helpers: 32.8%
6. Miscellaneous entertainment attendants: 29.1%
7. Food prep workers, including fast food: 28.6%
8. Helpers, installation, maintenance, and repair: 28.6%
9. Cashiers: 27.1%
10. Dishwashers: 26.6%
Click here for the top 10 occupations among Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
iGeneration share of workers (average = 5%)
1. Lifeguards and other recreational protective service workers: 56.4%
2. Counter attendants, coffee shops and cafeterias: 54.2%
3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurants and coffee shops: 49.8%
4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers: 34.1%
5. Dining room, cafeteria, and bartender helpers: 32.8%
6. Miscellaneous entertainment attendants: 29.1%
7. Food prep workers, including fast food: 28.6%
8. Helpers, installation, maintenance, and repair: 28.6%
9. Cashiers: 27.1%
10. Dishwashers: 26.6%
Click here for the top 10 occupations among Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
Monday, March 21, 2016
Gun Ownership: Urban vs. Rural
Only 32 percent of the nation's adults live in a household with guns, according to the 2014 General Social Survey, down from 49 percent in 1973. The percentage of adults who live in a household with guns is much higher in rural areas...
Percent of adults with a firearm in their household, 2010-14
14.8% in the central cities of the 12 largest metros
19.2% in the suburbs of the 12 largest metros
19.4% in the central cities of the 13th to 100th largest metros
29.0% in the suburbs of the 13th to 100th largest metros
43.7% in other urban areas
55.9% in rural counties
Source: National Opinion Research Center, General Social Survey: Trends in Gun Ownership in the United States, 1972-2014
Percent of adults with a firearm in their household, 2010-14
14.8% in the central cities of the 12 largest metros
19.2% in the suburbs of the 12 largest metros
19.4% in the central cities of the 13th to 100th largest metros
29.0% in the suburbs of the 13th to 100th largest metros
43.7% in other urban areas
55.9% in rural counties
Source: National Opinion Research Center, General Social Survey: Trends in Gun Ownership in the United States, 1972-2014
Friday, March 18, 2016
Attitudes toward Same-Sex Relationships
In the past decade, younger adults have become increasingly open-minded about same-sex relationships, according to a National Center for Health Statistics report. Same-sex relationships are not only okay with younger generations, but increasingly so as Millennials replace Gen Xers in the under-45 age group.
Among women under age 45, the percentage who think sexual relations between two adults of the same sex are all right climbed from 42 to 60 percent between 2002 and 2011-13. Their male counterparts (who were not surveyed in 2002) also are becoming more open minded. In 2011-13, 49 percent agreed that same-sex relations are all right, up from 40 percent in 2006-10. Even in the under-45 age group, however, there's an age gradient in the percentage who agree that same-sex relations between two adults of the same sex are all right...
Women who agree
Aged 15 to 24: 65%
Aged 25 to 34: 62%
Aged 35 to 44: 54%
Men who agree
Aged 15 to 24: 52%
Aged 25 to 34: 48%
Aged 35 to 44: 46%
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth, Trends in Attitudes about Marriage, Childbearing, and Sexual Behavior: United States, 2002, 2006-2010, and 2011-2013
Among women under age 45, the percentage who think sexual relations between two adults of the same sex are all right climbed from 42 to 60 percent between 2002 and 2011-13. Their male counterparts (who were not surveyed in 2002) also are becoming more open minded. In 2011-13, 49 percent agreed that same-sex relations are all right, up from 40 percent in 2006-10. Even in the under-45 age group, however, there's an age gradient in the percentage who agree that same-sex relations between two adults of the same sex are all right...
Women who agree
Aged 15 to 24: 65%
Aged 25 to 34: 62%
Aged 35 to 44: 54%
Men who agree
Aged 15 to 24: 52%
Aged 25 to 34: 48%
Aged 35 to 44: 46%
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth, Trends in Attitudes about Marriage, Childbearing, and Sexual Behavior: United States, 2002, 2006-2010, and 2011-2013
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Top 10 Occupations: Millennials
Among the hundreds of detailed occupations examined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 10 with the largest percentage of Millennials (aged 21 to 38 in 2015)...
Millennial share of workers (average = 38%)
1. Food and tobacco roasting machine operators: 65.7%
2. Helpers, extraction workers: 65.0%
3. Occupational therapy assistants and aides: 64.3%
4. Dancers and choreographers: 64.2%
5. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: 62.3%
6. Sailors and mariner oilers: 61.8%
7. Bartenders: 61.2%
8. Wind turbine service technicians: 60.0%
9. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics: 59.9%
10. Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining: 58.8%
Click here for the top 10 occupations among Boomers and Gen Xers.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
Millennial share of workers (average = 38%)
1. Food and tobacco roasting machine operators: 65.7%
2. Helpers, extraction workers: 65.0%
3. Occupational therapy assistants and aides: 64.3%
4. Dancers and choreographers: 64.2%
5. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: 62.3%
6. Sailors and mariner oilers: 61.8%
7. Bartenders: 61.2%
8. Wind turbine service technicians: 60.0%
9. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics: 59.9%
10. Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining: 58.8%
Click here for the top 10 occupations among Boomers and Gen Xers.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Household Income Stable in January 2016
Median household income in January 2016 stood at $57,288, according to Sentier Research, which was not significantly different from the December 2015 median, after adjusting for inflation. The January 2016 median was 4.0 percent higher than the January 2015 median, however, and 10.3 percent above the $51,945 median of August 2011, the low point in Sentier's household income series.
"There has been a general upward trend in median household income since the post-recession low point reached in August 2011," reports Sentier. "Many monthly changes were not statistically significant. By the summer of 2014 however, that uneven trend became dominated by a series of significant monthly increases." According to Sentier's Gordon Green, low energy prices have contributed significantly to the rise in real median household income.
Median household income in January 2016 was 2.9 percent higher than the median of June 2009, which marked the end of the Great Recession. It was 1.0 percent higher than the median of December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. The January 2016 median was still 0.2 percent below the median of January 2000. The Household Income Index for January 2016 was 99.8 (January 2000 = 100.0).
Sentier's median household income estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Survey.
Source: Sentier Research, Household Income Trends: January 2016
"There has been a general upward trend in median household income since the post-recession low point reached in August 2011," reports Sentier. "Many monthly changes were not statistically significant. By the summer of 2014 however, that uneven trend became dominated by a series of significant monthly increases." According to Sentier's Gordon Green, low energy prices have contributed significantly to the rise in real median household income.
Median household income in January 2016 was 2.9 percent higher than the median of June 2009, which marked the end of the Great Recession. It was 1.0 percent higher than the median of December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. The January 2016 median was still 0.2 percent below the median of January 2000. The Household Income Index for January 2016 was 99.8 (January 2000 = 100.0).
Sentier's median household income estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Survey.
Source: Sentier Research, Household Income Trends: January 2016
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Who Actually Votes?
Americans are even less likely to vote than it appears. That's what Pew Research Center discovered when it asked its American Trends Panel respondents whether they had voted in the 2014 midterm election and then attempted to match those who said they "definitely voted" with commercially available national voter files. Sixteen percent of respondents who said they "definitely voted" had no record of doing so. The demographic segments least likely to vote are also the ones most likely to say they voted when they did not...
In other words, the CPS is the best we've got. According to the CPS, 20 percent of 18-to-29-year-old citizens and 27 percent of Hispanic citizens reported voting in the 2014 midterm election. Pew's analysis suggests that actual voting rates for these two important segments of the electorate are in fact much lower.
Source: Pew Research Center, Many Americans Say They Voted, But Did They?
- Young adults: among 18-to 29-year-olds who say they "definitely voted" in the 2014 midterm election, fully 35 percent had no record of doing so. The figure was a smaller 17 percent among 30-to-49-year-olds, 15 percent among 50-to-64-year-olds, and just 7 percent among people aged 65 or older.
- Hispanics: among Hispanics who say they "definitely voted" in the 2014 midterm election, a substantial 27 percent had no record of doing so. Among Blacks and non-Hispanic Whites, the figure was a smaller 15 percent.
In other words, the CPS is the best we've got. According to the CPS, 20 percent of 18-to-29-year-old citizens and 27 percent of Hispanic citizens reported voting in the 2014 midterm election. Pew's analysis suggests that actual voting rates for these two important segments of the electorate are in fact much lower.
Source: Pew Research Center, Many Americans Say They Voted, But Did They?
Monday, March 14, 2016
What Do College Students Carry in their Wallets?
They carry cash, according to a Sallie Mae survey of college students aged 18 to 24. Eighty-six percent of students say they have cash in their wallet. Almost as many—85 percent—carry a debit card. A smaller 56 percent have a credit card.
The Sallie Mae survey probes the financial attitudes, behavior, and knowledge of students at technical schools, two-year colleges, and four-year institutions. According to the survey, 52 percent have student loans, 23 percent have credit card debt, 13 percent have vehicle loans, 9 percent have a mortgage, and 7 percent have medical debt.
Twenty-four percent of college students say they are excellent money managers, and another 41 percent say they are good at it. Only 29 percent say they are just average, and 6 percent rate themselves as not very good or poor. Interestingly, those who consider themselves excellent at managing their money are less likely than those who rate their skills more modestly to correctly answer a three-question financial literacy test.
Source: Sallie Mae, Majoring in Money: How American College Students Manage Their Finances
The Sallie Mae survey probes the financial attitudes, behavior, and knowledge of students at technical schools, two-year colleges, and four-year institutions. According to the survey, 52 percent have student loans, 23 percent have credit card debt, 13 percent have vehicle loans, 9 percent have a mortgage, and 7 percent have medical debt.
Twenty-four percent of college students say they are excellent money managers, and another 41 percent say they are good at it. Only 29 percent say they are just average, and 6 percent rate themselves as not very good or poor. Interestingly, those who consider themselves excellent at managing their money are less likely than those who rate their skills more modestly to correctly answer a three-question financial literacy test.
Source: Sallie Mae, Majoring in Money: How American College Students Manage Their Finances
Friday, March 11, 2016
Find the Recreation Hot Spots
Where are the nation's recreation hot spots and retirement destinations? Which local economies are dependent on manufacturing, mining, farming, or federal and state government employment? The USDA's Economic Research Service has new maps and stats that reveal the economic and social characteristics of the nation's 3,000-plus counties.
"The 2015 County Typology Codes classify all U.S. counties according to six mutually exclusive categories of economic dependence and six overlapping categories of policy-relevant themes," explains the ERS. The results are downloadable as an Excel spreadsheet.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, 2015 County Typology Codes
"The 2015 County Typology Codes classify all U.S. counties according to six mutually exclusive categories of economic dependence and six overlapping categories of policy-relevant themes," explains the ERS. The results are downloadable as an Excel spreadsheet.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, 2015 County Typology Codes
Thursday, March 10, 2016
What Americans Think about "Medicare-for-All"
Half of Americans are in favor of guaranteed health insurance coverage in which all Americans would get their insurance through a single government health plan, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. But support varies greatly by age...
Percent somewhat or strongly in favor of universal coverage
Aged 18 to 29: 65%
Aged 30 to 49: 55%
Aged 50 to 64: 41%
Aged 65-plus: 36%
Interestingly, the level of public support depends on the term used to describe universal coverage. Fully 63 percent of Americans have a somewhat or very positive reaction to the term "Medicare-for-all," and 57 percent feel positive about the term "guaranteed universal health coverage." But support falls to 44 percent if the term "single-payer health insurance system" is used, and just 38 percent feel positive about "socialized medicine."
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: February 2016
Percent somewhat or strongly in favor of universal coverage
Aged 18 to 29: 65%
Aged 30 to 49: 55%
Aged 50 to 64: 41%
Aged 65-plus: 36%
Interestingly, the level of public support depends on the term used to describe universal coverage. Fully 63 percent of Americans have a somewhat or very positive reaction to the term "Medicare-for-all," and 57 percent feel positive about the term "guaranteed universal health coverage." But support falls to 44 percent if the term "single-payer health insurance system" is used, and just 38 percent feel positive about "socialized medicine."
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: February 2016
Wednesday, March 09, 2016
Top 10 Occupations: Generation X
Among the hundreds of detailed occupations examined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 10 with the largest percentage of Gen Xers (aged 39 to 50 in 2015) ...
Generation X share of workers (average = 26%)
1. Supervisors of police and detectives: 44.7%
2. Brokerage clerks: 40.0%
3. Financial examiners: 40.0%
4. Locomotive engineers: 39.6%
5. Computer network architects: 38.4%
6. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers: 38.1%
7. Computer and information systems managers: 38.1%
8. Supervisors of correctional officers: 38.1%
9. Training and development mangers: 38.0%
10. Human resources managers: 37.0%
Click here for the top 10 occupations among Boomers.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
Generation X share of workers (average = 26%)
1. Supervisors of police and detectives: 44.7%
2. Brokerage clerks: 40.0%
3. Financial examiners: 40.0%
4. Locomotive engineers: 39.6%
5. Computer network architects: 38.4%
6. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers: 38.1%
7. Computer and information systems managers: 38.1%
8. Supervisors of correctional officers: 38.1%
9. Training and development mangers: 38.0%
10. Human resources managers: 37.0%
Click here for the top 10 occupations among Boomers.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
Tuesday, March 08, 2016
Top 10 Occupations: Boomers
Among the hundreds of detailed occupations examined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 10 with the largest percentage of Boomers (aged 51 to 69 in 2015)...
Baby Boom share of workers (average = 31%)
1. Buyers and purchasing agents, farm products: 64.0%
2. Judges and magistrates: 62.4%
3. Crossing guards: 62.1%
4. Print binding and finishing workers: 61.0%
5. Farmers and ranchers: 59.7%
6. Tailors and dressmakers: 58.1%
7. Parking enforcement workers: 58.0%
8. Postmasters and mail superintendents: 57.5%
9. Furniture finishers: 56.0%
10. Tool and die makers: 55.3%
Stay tuned for the top 10 occupations among Gen Xers, Millennials, and the iGeneration.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
Baby Boom share of workers (average = 31%)
1. Buyers and purchasing agents, farm products: 64.0%
2. Judges and magistrates: 62.4%
3. Crossing guards: 62.1%
4. Print binding and finishing workers: 61.0%
5. Farmers and ranchers: 59.7%
6. Tailors and dressmakers: 58.1%
7. Parking enforcement workers: 58.0%
8. Postmasters and mail superintendents: 57.5%
9. Furniture finishers: 56.0%
10. Tool and die makers: 55.3%
Stay tuned for the top 10 occupations among Gen Xers, Millennials, and the iGeneration.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment data from the Current Population Survey
Monday, March 07, 2016
Daily Consumption of Sugary Drinks
How many Americans aged 18 or older drink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage every day? According to the CDC, a substantial 29 percent. The CDC defines sugar-sweetened beverages as regular sodas, fruit drinks, sweet tea, and sports or energy drinks. Excluded from the measure are diet sodas and fruit juice...
- By state: daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is highest in Mississippi (47.5 percent of adults) and lowest in Vermont (18.0 percent).
- By age: daily consumption is greatest among 18-to-24-year-olds (43.3 percent) and lowest among people aged 55 or older (19.1 percent).
- By race and Hispanic origin: daily consumption is highest among Blacks (39.9 percent) and Hispanics (36.3 percent) and lowest among "other, non-Hispanics" (21.2 percent), a segment dominated by Asians.
- By education: only 15.5 percent of college graduates drink sugar-sweetened beverages every day versus 28.5 percent of those with some college, 35.8 percent of high school graduates, and 42.4 percent of adults without a high school diploma.
Friday, March 04, 2016
Financial Stability, Upward Mobility, Depend on Family Help
In a pinch, families come to the rescue. In the past year, 26 percent of American households provided financial assistance to family (or friends) who needed help with day-to-day expenses, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts study. Analyzing data from its Survey of American Family Finances, Pew reports that the helping households provided a median of $1,000 in assistance.
Some families do much more, providing their adult children with what Pew call "mobility-enhancing" funds: money for higher education and homeownership. According to Pew's analysis of the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics, 10 percent of adult children received financial help from their parents for home purchasing, and 31 percent received funds for higher education. Of course the wealthiest families are most likely to provide these funds. Among adults raised in the wealthiest one-third of families, 52 percent received money from their parents for higher education and 61 percent received money for home purchasing. Among those in the least wealthy one-third, the comparable figures are just 14 and 6 percent.
"The safety net provided to households by friends and relatives," says Pew, "is a hidden dimension of the financial system and one that may reinforce existing advantages and disadvantages in family finances."
Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts, Extended Family Support and Household Balance Sheets
Some families do much more, providing their adult children with what Pew call "mobility-enhancing" funds: money for higher education and homeownership. According to Pew's analysis of the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics, 10 percent of adult children received financial help from their parents for home purchasing, and 31 percent received funds for higher education. Of course the wealthiest families are most likely to provide these funds. Among adults raised in the wealthiest one-third of families, 52 percent received money from their parents for higher education and 61 percent received money for home purchasing. Among those in the least wealthy one-third, the comparable figures are just 14 and 6 percent.
"The safety net provided to households by friends and relatives," says Pew, "is a hidden dimension of the financial system and one that may reinforce existing advantages and disadvantages in family finances."
Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts, Extended Family Support and Household Balance Sheets
Thursday, March 03, 2016
2016 Voters by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin
Older non-Hispanic Whites (aged 45 or older) will account for only 47 percent of voters in the 2016 presidential election, according to a Demo Memo analysis of Census Bureau data. This is well below their 55 percent share of voters in the 2014 mid-term election and slightly below their 48 percent share of voters in the 2012 presidential election.
The 47 percent figure is based on the Census Bureau's 2016 population projections by age, race, and Hispanic origin. The citizenship and voting rates of 2012 were applied to each racial and ethnic group, and those rates were applied to non-Hispanic Whites by age. The result is the projected demographics of voters in 2016...
Projected voters in 2016 election by race and Hispanic origin
Total voters: 141 million
Non-Hispanic Whites: 101 million (72% of voters)
Blacks: 19 million (14% of voters)
Hispanics: 13 million (9% of voters)
Asians: 5 million (3% of voters)
Other races: 3 million (2% of voters)
Projected voters in 2016 election by age, race, and Hispanic origin
Total voters: 141 million
Minorities: 40 million (28% of voters)
Non-Hispanic Whites under age 45: 35 million (25% of voters)
Non-Hispanic Whites aged 45 or older: 67 million (47% of voters)
Non-Hispanic Whites under age 45 and Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and other minorities are likely to account for the 53 percent majority of voters in the 2016 presidential election.
Source: Demo Memo analysis based on the Census Bureau's Population Projections and Voting and Registration
The 47 percent figure is based on the Census Bureau's 2016 population projections by age, race, and Hispanic origin. The citizenship and voting rates of 2012 were applied to each racial and ethnic group, and those rates were applied to non-Hispanic Whites by age. The result is the projected demographics of voters in 2016...
Projected voters in 2016 election by race and Hispanic origin
Total voters: 141 million
Non-Hispanic Whites: 101 million (72% of voters)
Blacks: 19 million (14% of voters)
Hispanics: 13 million (9% of voters)
Asians: 5 million (3% of voters)
Other races: 3 million (2% of voters)
Projected voters in 2016 election by age, race, and Hispanic origin
Total voters: 141 million
Minorities: 40 million (28% of voters)
Non-Hispanic Whites under age 45: 35 million (25% of voters)
Non-Hispanic Whites aged 45 or older: 67 million (47% of voters)
Non-Hispanic Whites under age 45 and Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and other minorities are likely to account for the 53 percent majority of voters in the 2016 presidential election.
Source: Demo Memo analysis based on the Census Bureau's Population Projections and Voting and Registration
Wednesday, March 02, 2016
Time Spent in Health-Related Self Care
Many Americans have health needs that require daily attention. The American Time Use Survey measures this time, calling it "health-related self care," and documents its growing importance in daily life as people age. Health-related self care includes activities such as taking medicine or vitamins; resting because of an illness or injury; giving oneself a shot; testing blood sugar levels; taking insulin; applying ointment; putting ice on an injury; changing oxygen; doing childbirth, stress management, or therapeutic exercises; and even meditating (not religious).
On an average day, 7 percent of people aged 15 or older engage in health-related self care as a primary activity. Among people aged 75 or older, the proportion is one in five...
Percent participating in health-related self care on an average day
Aged 15 to 19: 1%
Aged 20 to 24: 2%
Aged 25 to 34: 2%
Aged 35 to 44: 3%
Aged 45 to 54: 8%
Aged 55 to 64: 9%
Aged 65 to 74: 12%
Aged 75-plus: 21%
The time devoted to health-related self care is not trivial. Those who engage in health-related self care on an average day spend more than an hour attending to their health needs.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of unpublished tables from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2014 American Time Use Survey
On an average day, 7 percent of people aged 15 or older engage in health-related self care as a primary activity. Among people aged 75 or older, the proportion is one in five...
Percent participating in health-related self care on an average day
Aged 15 to 19: 1%
Aged 20 to 24: 2%
Aged 25 to 34: 2%
Aged 35 to 44: 3%
Aged 45 to 54: 8%
Aged 55 to 64: 9%
Aged 65 to 74: 12%
Aged 75-plus: 21%
The time devoted to health-related self care is not trivial. Those who engage in health-related self care on an average day spend more than an hour attending to their health needs.
Source: Demo Memo analysis of unpublished tables from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2014 American Time Use Survey
Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Household Income Grows in December
Median household income in December 2015 stood at $57,153, according to Sentier Research—0.7 percent higher than the November median, after adjusting for inflation. The December 2015 median was 4.3 percent higher than the December 2014 median and 10.2 percent above the $51,859 median of August 2011, the low point in Sentier's household income series.
"There has been a general upward trend in median household income since the post-recession low point reached in August 2011," reports Sentier. Its median household income estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Survey.
"There has been a general upward trend in median household income since the post-recession low point reached in August 2011," reports Sentier. Its median household income estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Survey.
Median household income in December 2015 was 2.7 percent higher than the median of June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. It was 0.8 percent higher than the median of December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It is still 0.4 percent lower than the median of January 2000. The Household Income Index for December 2015 was 99.6 (January 2000 = 100.0).
Source: Sentier Research, Household Income Trends: December 2015
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